SWANNANOA, N.C. --- The Tusculum College men's cross country team recorded its first team victory in nine years as the Pioneers captured the 2012 Warren Wilson Invitational Friday afternoon.

Sophomore David Cooper finished first to claim his second individual title of his young collegiate career as the Pioneers accounted for 31 total points, six ahead of second-place and host Warren Wilson. Cooper finished the 8K course with a time of 29:49.85, nearly a minute-and-a-half of the second place runner. TC freshman Lawson Burrow finished third with a time of 31:27.14. Zachary Simpson placed fifth with his time of 31:38.72, while Kekona Soon was ninth with 32:53.87. Elijah Minter posted a 34:11.73 to finish 13th, while George Blalock came in 23rd place at 41:08.25.

Tusculum garnered runner-up honors in the women's race as Warren Wilson accounted for 36 points, two points ahead of the Pioneers who finished with 38. The rookie duo of Paige Bible and Maggie Bernabei finished second and third, respectively. Bible posted a 5K-time of 23:16.75, while Bernabei came in at 23:26.18. Jenny Grant accounted for a top-10 showing as she posted a time of 24:11.13 to finish sixth. Ashley Gregg (26:36.58), Lakesa Hendrix (26:50.79) and Allison Hall (26:55.71) finished 13th, 14th and 15th, respectively. Carol Hogan (20th, 27:49.13) and Kim Brown (22nd, 27:52.80) rounded out the scoring for the Pioneers.

The TC men capture its first team title since claiming championship honors at the 2003 Tusculum Invitational.

The Pioneers return to action next Saturday as they compete at the The Citadel Invitational in Charleston, S.C.

- TC -

Men's Team Results
Pl. Team Pts.
1 TUSCULUM 31
2 Warren Wilson 37
3 Toccoa Falls 55

Tusculum Individual Results
Pl. Runner Time
1 David Cooper 29:49.85
3 Lawson Burrow 31:27.14
5 Zachary Simpson 31:38.72
9 Kekona Soon 32:53.87
13 Elijah Minter 34:11.73
23 George Blalock 41:08.25

Women's Team Results
Pl. Team Pts.
1 Warren Wilson 36
2 TUSCULUM 38
3 Salem 74
4 Toccoa Falls 76

Tusculum Individual Results
Pl. Runner Time
2 Paige Bible 23:16.75
3 Maggie Bernabei 23:26.18
6 Jenny Grant 24:11.13
13 Ashley Gregg 26:36.58
14 Lakesa Hendrix 26:50.79
15 Allison Hall 26:55.71
20 Carol Hogan 27:49.13
22 Kim Brown 27:52.80